Learning To Ride

I got Scottie a bike for his seventh birthday this year. It's like pulling teeth trying to get him to do anything besides play video games or watching cartoons, but I am determined to get him to learn how to ride this year. At the same time I'm a little apprehensive because I see that milestone as one of the hallmark signs that he's grown from being a "little kid" to being a "big kid." I can visualize myself running along behind him, holding his bike seat and pushing him off. He rides away down the sidewalk, riding off into the rest of his life, leaving me behind. This is the bittersweet price every parent pays for the joys of raising a child. I love to watch him learning and growing but at the same time I don't want it to happen.

It still seems like just yesterday when he was two and riding his little plastic Big Wheel. His legs were too short to reach the pedals so he kicked himself along Flinstones style. He loved that little trike.

At four I tried to teach him to ride but he just wasn't ready yet. Some of his little friends could ride bikes, but I guess some kids just develop faster in that area than others. Besides, he was in love with his electric motorcycle.


Scottie doesn't want to learn how to ride a bike, but I know that once he does he will fall in love with it. And I know that a big part of his childhood will be gone forever.

I read a quote recently that sums it up:

“As difficult as it may be, our primary job as parents is to teach ourchildren how to leave us."

Dr. Jill Murray